An East Lancashire MP has come under fire for taking a partly expenses paid skiing trip to a swanky Alpine resort.

Hyndburn Tory backbencher Sara Britcliffe spent a week on the slopes in Davos-Klosters in Switzerland at the beginning of January.

She paid her own air fare but accepted more than £1,000 in free hospitality the Parliamentary Register of Members Interests reveals.

Ms Britcliffe was one of several MPs to go on the British-Swiss Parliamentary Ski Week.

Rishton's Cllr Kate Walsh, deputy leader of Hyndburn Council's Labour group, condemned the trip as 'in bad taste' during a cost of living crisis.

But Ms Britcliffe said 'Members of Parliament are entitled to a break like everybody else'.

The register reveals she was in the resort from January 1 to 8 and accepted donations for a formal dinner and drinks reception valued at £256.70 and an adult ski pass and ski instructor worth £837.95.

They were paid for by Skigruppe der Bundesversammlung and Davos Klosters Bergbahnen AG.

Cllr Walsh said: "We are in the middle of a cost of living crisis - everyday I have mums contacting me because they can’t afford formula to feed their babies.

"Seems in bad taste our MP is on the snow, living it up in Davos, Switzerland enjoying skiing lessons, passes, and lavish dinners at no cost when so many are using foodbanks.

"One has to ask what exactly do those who funded the trip get in return?

"Why not ask those companies to make a charitable donation instead?

"Residents who earn much less than Sara fund their own holidays.

"I would expect an MP to pay their way.”

Ms Britcliffe said: "Over Christmas I went to Switzerland, Parliament was not sitting and there was zero cost to the taxpayer.

“During the trip there were multiple engagements. We covered Ukraine - at meetings and a round table - foreign policy, the EU and healthcare.

"The healthcare sessions were particularly interesting, including a hospital visit and briefing on the Swiss healthcare model.

“Members of Parliament are entitled to a break like everybody else, and like everybody else I paid for my travel myself.

"Our Swiss hosts kindly agreed to pay for some activities, which have been declared in the proper way.

“The idea, as spread by some in Hyndburn Labour, this was a trip on expenses is untrue.

"Yet again, this is Hyndburn Labour staying true to form and playing student politics rather than focusing on delivering for the residents of Hyndburn, which is where my focus has and always will be.”